Born: March 29, 1986

Johnny Hunter is a northern UK-based drummer who comes from a background of both the Avant-Garde and the more mainstream Jazz. He has performed or recorded with such esteemed musicians as Benn Clatworthy, Mick Beck, Nat Birchall, Jamil Sheriff, Jamie Taylor, Pete Fairclough, Walt Shaw, Corey Mwamba and Graham Clark to name a few. He is also heavily involved in the Reggae and Dub scene.

He is currently playing with Marley Chingus, Liverpool-based quartet playing heavy modal Jazz inspired by John Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders and the like; Engine Room Favourites, AACM inspired Free Jazz; the Blind Monk Trio, sax/bass/drums trio playing heavy rootjazz; the Dub Jazz Soundsystem, a mash-up of heavy Dub and psychedelic modal Jazz; Skamel, a Ska/Jazz/Dub ensemble inspired by the French Reggae group Raspigaous; and his own “chordless” quartet set up to explore the freedom and limitations of having no chordal instrument. He also runs the Jazz jam night at Matt & Phred’s Jazz Club....
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Johnny Hunter is a northern UK-based drummer who comes from a background of both the Avant-Garde and the more mainstream Jazz. He has performed or recorded with such esteemed musicians as Benn Clatworthy, Mick Beck, Nat Birchall, Jamil Sheriff, Jamie Taylor, Pete Fairclough, Walt Shaw, Corey Mwamba and Graham Clark to name a few. He is also heavily involved in the Reggae and Dub scene.

He is currently playing with Marley Chingus, Liverpool-based quartet playing heavy modal Jazz inspired by John Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders and the like; Engine Room Favourites, AACM inspired Free Jazz; the Blind Monk Trio, sax/bass/drums trio playing heavy rootjazz; the Dub Jazz Soundsystem, a mash-up of heavy Dub and psychedelic modal Jazz; Skamel, a Ska/Jazz/Dub ensemble inspired by the French Reggae group Raspigaous; and his own “chordless” quartet set up to explore the freedom and limitations of having no chordal instrument. He also runs the Jazz jam night at Matt & Phred’s Jazz Club.

Johnny also works as an arranger and, as well as arranging and orchestrating music for others, he leads a big band playing entirely his own Ska & Jazz arrangements.

And finally the drummer, Johnny. I originally thought the requirements for a jazz drummer was significantly different to a reggae percussionist. Jazz is expansive and out-there, dub is kind of subdued and introspective. He managed to expertly achieve both styles flawlessly. One of the best in the business. - from a review of the Dub Jazz Soundsystem, http://nwb.co/blog/post/49346/easystreetmusic/critiqual—-real-reviews-of-a-gig—-dub-jazz-soundsystem

“[The Johnny Hunter Quartet] have quickly become one of the most exciting emerging bands in Manchester.” - Efpi Records, Jan 2013